INFORMATION SHEET 1.1.

1
ELECTRICAL SAFETY FOR ARC WELDING

a. All electrical equipment should have an earth ground for safety reason, and this ground should
not be confused with the work lead to workpiece ground that completes the welding circuit.
b. Keep electrical connections tight, clean and dry because poor connections can heat up, cause
bad welds, produce dangerous arcs and sparking, and even melt.
c. Keep work area, equipment, and clothing dry because even a slight amount of moisture can
conduct enough electricity to cause a severe shock.
d. Never dip an electric holder in water to cool it.
e. When working with welding machines set up for multiple operation, be very careful not to touch
hot parts of the electrode holders because open circuit voltages from two machines are
increased and can cause a severe shock.
f. Remove electrode from electrode holder when work is finished.
g. Disconnect and look out all electric power sources before doing any work on electrical
equipment.
h. When working in high places, carefully examine work area for electrical hazards because a
shock in such conditions could cause a fall and severe injury.
i. Keep welding cables free of conduits, motors, and any other equipment that could cause a short
circuit.
j. Keep ground as far away from the arc as possible.

RULES FOR HANDLING WELDING CABLES

a. Never drag welding cable through oil, and never pull on a cable to force it over an obstruction.
b. Use only clean, dry rags to clean welding cables, and never use gasoline or an oily rag to clean
a cable.
c. When not in use, keep welding cables free of kinks and properly stored on a flat surface off the
floor.
d. Never drape a welding cable over any type of gas cylinder.

RULES FOR HANDLING HOLLOW CASTINGS OR CONTAINERS

a. Hollow castings or containers should be vented before any heating, cutting or welding activity.
b. Tanks, drums, and containers should not be heated, cut or welded.
c. The rule for beginners is to never attempt heating, cutting, or welding on hollow castings or
containers.

HAZARDS FROM ARC RAYS

a. A welding arc produces ultraviolet and infrared radiation that can severely burn eye that are
unprotected with a proper shade of protective lens
Note: A welding helmet or hood protects the head from flying sparks, but the shaded lens and
safety glasses are required for total eye protection.

b. Radiation from a welding arc is strong enough to burn or sometime blister bare skin if the
exposure is intense or for an extended period, so arms, legs, and torso should be covered with
durable flame resistant clothing.
c. Work stations and work areas should be shielded to prevent an arc flash from injuring nearby
workers or visitors.
TYPES OF WELDING HOODS

a. Stationary filter lens – this type of hood has a fix lens housing
with the shaded lens held in by a spring retainer from where a
lens can be slipped out and replaced as welding requires.

b. Flip-front filter lens – this type of hood has lens housing with
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a front side that can be flipped up so that it leaves a clear
glass lens that permits the hood to be worn while chipping.